Monday's letters: Clean water

Published: Monday, September 1, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 29, 2014 at 3:13 p.m.

Clean water

To the editor: All citizens have the right to clean, safe water. It is the state’s responsibly to protect this resource. The lack of responsible legislation from the Republican administration regarding Duke Energy’s coal ash ponds puts every citizen in the state at risk.

State regulators have conceded that every coal ash pond is seeping toxic residue into the ground. With heavy rainstorms, these toxins migrate into fresh water sources we all count on. The Republican response disregards any concern for the public welfare. Only the threat of litigation prompted them to react. As reward for Duke Energy, the administration approved a 7.5 percent rate hike and allows it to petition to pass cleanup costs to us.

Who wins? We citizens, or the former employer of Gov. Pat McCrory?

Peter Jackson

Hendersonville

Thankful for help

To the editor: I would like to both compliment and thank Sen. Kay Hagan and her staff for their help in solving a difficult issue.

My 100-year-old father, a retired federal employee, had stopped receiving his government retirement checks. He went for four months without any check. This caused him great difficulty and consternation. He tried several different avenues to right the problem, to no avail.

I finally was able to help him by contacting Sen. Hagan’s office. Her staff addressed the problem and wrote a letter to the Office of Personnel Management on the matter. The issue was promptly dealt with, and the problem solved. His missing checks were delivered.

I am very grateful to Sen. Hagan and her staff members for their interest and help.

Linda Casselberry

Flat Rock

Risk managers

To the editor: Not for women only: Two swell library books give a welcome nod to women’s risk-management skill during the global financial crises in the first decade of this century.

Among several compliments, Michael Lewis’ amusing book “Boomerang” recounts how after Iceland’s crash, a male Icelander came to the door of an all-female financial firm’s founder and said, “I want you women to keep my money safe.” Then there is past FDIC chief Sheila Bair’s book “Bull by the Horns.” Bair shows the value of regulations for risk management. Time magazine put her, Elizabeth Warren and past SEC chief Mary Schapiro on the cover, honoring their defense of our economy.

While taking risks has a place, I’m glad to see credit given to these risk managers.

<p class="bold allcaps">Clean water</p>
<p>To the editor: All citizens have the right to clean, safe water. It is the state's responsibly to protect this resource. The lack of responsible legislation from the Republican administration regarding Duke Energy's coal ash ponds puts every citizen in the state at risk.</p><p>State regulators have conceded that every coal ash pond is seeping toxic residue into the ground. With heavy rainstorms, these toxins migrate into fresh water sources we all count on. The Republican response disregards any concern for the public welfare. Only the threat of litigation prompted them to react. As reward for Duke Energy, the administration approved a 7.5 percent rate hike and allows it to petition to pass cleanup costs to us.</p><p>Who wins? We citizens, or the former employer of Gov. Pat McCrory?</p><p><em>Peter Jackson</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Thankful for help</h3>
<p>To the editor: I would like to both compliment and thank Sen. Kay Hagan and her staff for their help in solving a difficult issue.</p><p>My 100-year-old father, a retired federal employee, had stopped receiving his government retirement checks. He went for four months without any check. This caused him great difficulty and consternation. He tried several different avenues to right the problem, to no avail.</p><p>I finally was able to help him by contacting Sen. Hagan's office. Her staff addressed the problem and wrote a letter to the Office of Personnel Management on the matter. The issue was promptly dealt with, and the problem solved. His missing checks were delivered.</p><p>I am very grateful to Sen. Hagan and her staff members for their interest and help.</p><p><em>Linda Casselberry</em></p><p><em>Flat Rock</em></p><h3>Risk managers</h3>
<p>To the editor: Not for women only: Two swell library books give a welcome nod to women's risk-management skill during the global financial crises in the first decade of this century.</p><p>Among several compliments, Michael Lewis' amusing book “Boomerang” recounts how after Iceland's crash, a male Icelander came to the door of an all-female financial firm's founder and said, “I want you women to keep my money safe.” Then there is past FDIC chief Sheila Bair's book “Bull by the Horns.” Bair shows the value of regulations for risk management. Time magazine put her, Elizabeth Warren and past SEC chief Mary Schapiro on the cover, honoring their defense of our economy.</p><p>While taking risks has a place, I'm glad to see credit given to these risk managers.</p><p><em>Helen Struve</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>